By Richard Halstead
San Jose Mercury News
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Officials with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Wednesday they have delayed awarding a contract for the first phase of the $356 million death row complex at San Quentin State Prison until Feb. 9.
The corrections department has notified the three lowest bidders of its intention “to extend the period of award ... to allow additional time for the department to brief the new administration on various aspects of the project,” said Paul Verke, a corrections spokesman.
Marin officials are mounting a desperate last stand to prevent the awarding of the contract and kill the project. Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, met late last week with high-ranking members of the Jerry Brown administration in a bid to enlist the new governor’s support.
The county of Marin has filed suit to stop the contract from begin awarded and the county counsel is prepared to ask a Marin Superior Court judge for a temporary restraining order, if necessary.
The corrections department received nine bids that it opened on Nov. 9. A low bid of $126 million was submitted by McCarthy Building Companies of St. Louis, Mo. The process called for the awarding of a contract no later than 60 days after the opening of the bids.
Verke said McCarthy Building Companies has, however, agreed to extend its bid to the new deadline of Feb. 9.
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